Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the Model Secondary School for the Deaf student was held against his will for a period of time Sunday and eventually released with "KKK" and swastikas drawn on his skin, CNN reported Thursday.

Lanier said six white students and one black student, all between the ages of 15 and 19, held the student for about 45 minutes in a dorm room.

"The support we've received from the campus and from the school employees has been tremendous," Lanier said. "And I think they're supporting us in making a very strong statement that this investigation may lead to charges that could have enhanced penalties for a hate crime."